Sept 18: three more COVID-related deaths in BC

Friday September 18, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC

by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends

Today there were three new deaths by COVID-19 reported in the statistical and situational statement by BC Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry. The death tally is 223 and it’s a reminder as to how severe the illness can be.

Due to physical distancing requirements during the COVID pandemic, it is a challenge to grieve in the usual ways with family and friends. This creates an additional burden on families who are already dealing with unexpected loss.

Another 139 new cases:

In the 7,842 total COVID-19 cases in BC reported today, 179 of those are new to the tally (but 40 are ‘historical’ cases for people tested between August 11 and September 16 for people who did not have personal health numbers), for a result of 139 new cases. Seven of today’s new cases are epi-linked.

Adjusting to the new ‘in-pandemic’ normal:

“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic is going to continue now for years into the future,” said Minister Dix yesterday in his livestreamed media availability with Dr Henry.

“Through this year and probably through next year, enjoy life with the new normal. It’s going to be with us for a long time,” Dix said, adding that we will “learn to deal with it together”.

End-of-the-week COVID stats:

There are 1,803 active cases of COVID-19 in the province now at September 18, with 3,075 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 5,797 people who tested positive have recovered.

Currently, 59 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 20 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,817 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 4,007 in the Fraser Health region, 196 in the Island Health region, 492 in the Interior Health region, 244 in the Northern Health region and 86 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

Age profile:

Children under the age of 10 comprise 2.7% of BC’s COVID-19 cases, while tweens and teens up to age 19 comprise 5.2% of cases.

By age, the highest case tally is in the 20 to 29 year group — now 1,800 cases (22.9%), followed by 1,579 cases (20.1%) in the 30 to 39 year age group.

The 40 to 49 age group sees 1,087 cases (13.7%), and the 50 to 59 age group shows 1,009 cases (12.7%).

Seniors in the relatively active 60 to 69 year age group tally at 642 cases (8.2%).

In the elderly ages of 70+, the combined case total is 905 (11.5% of total cases).

Results of Labour Day weekend socializing:

“We need to push the COVID-19 curve back down and we have the knowledge, the tools and resources to do just that,” said Dix in today’s statement. “Always using your layers of protection and choosing to stick with your ‘safe six’ will help all of us this weekend and every weekend ahead.”

“Stick to six” is the current phraseology about keeping social bubbles small, as repeated a lot this week by BC Health Minister Adrian Dix.

“The cases we are seeing today are a direct result of how we spent our Labour Day long weekend,” said Dr Henry in today’s statement. Of course, the pep talk is to “break the chain of transmission and turn this trend around”.

“No one intends to pass the virus onto friends or family, but it is very easy to do,” says Dr Henry. It can take up to two weeks for symptoms of COVID-19 to develop and in that time, we can inadvertently spread it to others.

Vancouver Island profile:

At September 18, there are nine active cases of COVID-19 in Island Health, but no one in hospital. No new cases today, but a total of six this week (five on September 14 and one on September 17). Total cases tally at 196 (182 people who tested positive have recovered). The death tally on Vancouver Island has stood at five for many weeks.